Handling Upgrades?
Discussion
Hi there
I'm just back from a track day at Blyton Park. It was a really great day of throwing my V8S about and pushing it to the limit in corners, but I have to say the suspension set up felt quite spongy and body roll was pretty heavy.
I'm running 325 / 300 lbs springs on front / rear and Avo adjustable shocks.
Looking at the suspension wiki it seems they're quite soft. But I'm also thinking about anti-roll bars as a factor in the handling.
Has anyone upgraded anti-roll bar on their S as well as suspension and what was the outcome?
I'm not saying I'm definitely going to swap it all out as its not a bad ride day to day on the road but it would be good to have the knowledge.
Cheers
Rob
I'm just back from a track day at Blyton Park. It was a really great day of throwing my V8S about and pushing it to the limit in corners, but I have to say the suspension set up felt quite spongy and body roll was pretty heavy.
I'm running 325 / 300 lbs springs on front / rear and Avo adjustable shocks.
Looking at the suspension wiki it seems they're quite soft. But I'm also thinking about anti-roll bars as a factor in the handling.
Has anyone upgraded anti-roll bar on their S as well as suspension and what was the outcome?
I'm not saying I'm definitely going to swap it all out as its not a bad ride day to day on the road but it would be good to have the knowledge.
Cheers
Rob
I may be totally wrong, but I believe there are 3 different front anti-rollbar diameters over the S range: 18mm, 22mm & 24mm. At least, those were the options of bush sizes when I did Austin's set-up.
22mm seems to be the norm, see Joe's suspension wiki for the consensus on spring rates & dampers.
I am very happy with Austin's set-up and handling, great on track and not too hard for daily driving.
Percy is on 300-ish springs, rising rate Konis at the front, AVO adjustables at the rear, both way too soft for spirited driving. And the lower 55 profiles will be changed for 60's when the tyres are WTL, in the search for greater ground clearance.
I will probably switch to Gaz Nickels sometime in the future as well. ( Can't afford Nitrons ).
Note that everyone is different and suspension setup is very subjective.
22mm seems to be the norm, see Joe's suspension wiki for the consensus on spring rates & dampers.
I am very happy with Austin's set-up and handling, great on track and not too hard for daily driving.
Percy is on 300-ish springs, rising rate Konis at the front, AVO adjustables at the rear, both way too soft for spirited driving. And the lower 55 profiles will be changed for 60's when the tyres are WTL, in the search for greater ground clearance.
I will probably switch to Gaz Nickels sometime in the future as well. ( Can't afford Nitrons ).
Note that everyone is different and suspension setup is very subjective.
I stiffened the front arb a bit by moving the drop links back a couple of inches along the arms - I also got rid of the flex from the rubber bushes and drop links, which should have helped although I can't claim it made a huge difference. I keep meaning to fit a rear arb but never seem to get around to it, so it's interesting to see how others have done it. Mainly the way I've reduced body roll is to increase the spring rates a lot, which isn't ideal but is reasonably effective.
For what it's worth my experience has been that there is a huge, massive difference in performance between different damper brands/models in the sort of price range you're looking at, and if you're at all interested in improving the handling then dampers are the place to focus your budget. I've also found that the further you increase the power level the harder it gets to balance the conflicting requirements for power on handling and power off handling so be wary of reading too much into suspension settings from heavily upgraded cars.
For what it's worth my experience has been that there is a huge, massive difference in performance between different damper brands/models in the sort of price range you're looking at, and if you're at all interested in improving the handling then dampers are the place to focus your budget. I've also found that the further you increase the power level the harder it gets to balance the conflicting requirements for power on handling and power off handling so be wary of reading too much into suspension settings from heavily upgraded cars.
Hi
Some interesting ideas going on there. I like the idea of a rear ARB but obviously there's some additional mods compared to swapping dampers/springs out.
The AVOs I have use adjustable damping and are a decent mid range damper. I however do think spring rates could be improved like GV8S said. If it makes a big difference, its quite a cheap upgrade really if I keep dampers. Rising rate sounds good as presumably the ride and general road manners would be a bit more comfortable and then as the spring compresses it gets progressively stiffer, which could help in heavy fast cornering I suppose?
Some interesting ideas going on there. I like the idea of a rear ARB but obviously there's some additional mods compared to swapping dampers/springs out.
The AVOs I have use adjustable damping and are a decent mid range damper. I however do think spring rates could be improved like GV8S said. If it makes a big difference, its quite a cheap upgrade really if I keep dampers. Rising rate sounds good as presumably the ride and general road manners would be a bit more comfortable and then as the spring compresses it gets progressively stiffer, which could help in heavy fast cornering I suppose?
Hey, think I've followed you though the airport tunnels a few months back. Was great seeing another V8 on the road out in the wild.
My springs are 500 and 450 flbs I think. I can't remember if you've said but do you know what yours currently are?
The change is one of the best done to the car, transformed its handling. So much more composed but still not firm. Well, that depends on your idea of firm 😜
I'm over in alderley edge if you'd like to chat.
G
My springs are 500 and 450 flbs I think. I can't remember if you've said but do you know what yours currently are?
The change is one of the best done to the car, transformed its handling. So much more composed but still not firm. Well, that depends on your idea of firm 😜
I'm over in alderley edge if you'd like to chat.
G
Hi yes it was me then that was in the airport tunnels. Ha ha. Didn't realise you were round the corner.
This town's not big enough for the both of us.. Tunnel duel drag race to decide who stays?
Anyway, with those spring ratings you've got there, what's the ride like and hitting potholes and the like? Or is it just worth it for the handling?
PS, there's another S, an S3 I think, just down from me as well on Altrincham Road. Actually really surprised I haven't seen yours about the place at all.
This town's not big enough for the both of us.. Tunnel duel drag race to decide who stays?
Anyway, with those spring ratings you've got there, what's the ride like and hitting potholes and the like? Or is it just worth it for the handling?
PS, there's another S, an S3 I think, just down from me as well on Altrincham Road. Actually really surprised I haven't seen yours about the place at all.
There's a good reason you haven't seen mine out and about much, I've hardly driven it in the last 12 months as I've been too busy sorting lots of things out after moving to the area. Think I had only 400 miles in between MOTs this year, the shame!!!
Is that the green one that's regularly parked in the front garden nearer the town centre? I've only seen it briefly from behind and thought it was you again. Didn't think there would be so many so close to each other!
As for the handling, it's not that noticably firmer to me as my previous springs were too short and the shocks regularly hit the bump stops. The car has become a lot more stable and planted, especially at motorway speeds. It previously didn't like cruising above 60 and would weave and dart about all over the place. It doesn't bounce down the road any more, but big potholes are definately noticably. The car was never meant to be a comfy cruiser for me though, more just a lot of fun.
You're more than welcome to have a run out in it with me to help give you a idea.
Is that the green one that's regularly parked in the front garden nearer the town centre? I've only seen it briefly from behind and thought it was you again. Didn't think there would be so many so close to each other!
As for the handling, it's not that noticably firmer to me as my previous springs were too short and the shocks regularly hit the bump stops. The car has become a lot more stable and planted, especially at motorway speeds. It previously didn't like cruising above 60 and would weave and dart about all over the place. It doesn't bounce down the road any more, but big potholes are definately noticably. The car was never meant to be a comfy cruiser for me though, more just a lot of fun.
You're more than welcome to have a run out in it with me to help give you a idea.
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